The Craft Beer Thread....
Comments
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I have to admit, after Three Floyd’s I’m not familiar with any of those breweries. I’m going to have to keep my eyes peeled in case they distribute to IL. Maybe they can help sway my rankings.darwinstheory said:
Fine fine fine....in the name of transparency, I'll admit that I have not experienced all of the best that Illinois has to offer either. I would really like to try some stuff from Mikerphone for sure. There are also the Goose Islands and Lagunitas of the world. Due to them being owned by larger corporations, I disqualify them from being craft brews any longer (even though Goose IPA was good and Sumpin' Sumpin' is fire).bbiggs said:
Lol. I admit that IL and IN could be swapped and there’s a bit of my Chicago bias in there. Obviously 3F is as good as it gets, but I’m not very well versed in the rest of what IN has to offer. I’m familiar with so many local Chicagoland breweries that it makes it tough for me to put IN ahead. Sell me on why IN is better...c’mon man! Give me a reason to cross the state border!darwinstheory said:
This list is correct...IF you don't mind being wrong!bbiggs said:For Midwest beers, I’d have to say MI, IL, IN and WI in that order.

With so many breweries popping up over the last 3 years, it really becomes difficult to have the shelf space at the liquor stores to keep up. Just because someone opens a brewery, it doesn't mean their beer is worth a damn. Additionally, just because a brewery is new, it doesn't mean they are incapable of being great.
Here are my top 5 for each state (off the top of my head):
Illinois:
Pipeworks
Revolution
One Trick Pony
Half Acre
Two Brothers
Indiana:
3 Floyd's
18th St. Brewery
Burn Em'
Four Fathers
Sun King
.
The two IL breweries that I’d strongly suggest you try if/when you can see Noon Whistle and Brickstone. They’ve become two of my favorites. To be fair, I’m yet to try Mikerphone also, which I’ve heard is outstanding. FYI - I also exclude Lagunitas and Goose for the same reasons. Not a huge fan.0 -
Whereabouts are you in Chicagoland? 630, so I'm guessing south west side?bbiggs said:
I have to admit, after Three Floyd’s I’m not familiar with any of those breweries. I’m going to have to keep my eyes peeled in case they distribute to IL. Maybe they can help sway my rankings.darwinstheory said:
Fine fine fine....in the name of transparency, I'll admit that I have not experienced all of the best that Illinois has to offer either. I would really like to try some stuff from Mikerphone for sure. There are also the Goose Islands and Lagunitas of the world. Due to them being owned by larger corporations, I disqualify them from being craft brews any longer (even though Goose IPA was good and Sumpin' Sumpin' is fire).bbiggs said:
Lol. I admit that IL and IN could be swapped and there’s a bit of my Chicago bias in there. Obviously 3F is as good as it gets, but I’m not very well versed in the rest of what IN has to offer. I’m familiar with so many local Chicagoland breweries that it makes it tough for me to put IN ahead. Sell me on why IN is better...c’mon man! Give me a reason to cross the state border!darwinstheory said:
This list is correct...IF you don't mind being wrong!bbiggs said:For Midwest beers, I’d have to say MI, IL, IN and WI in that order.

With so many breweries popping up over the last 3 years, it really becomes difficult to have the shelf space at the liquor stores to keep up. Just because someone opens a brewery, it doesn't mean their beer is worth a damn. Additionally, just because a brewery is new, it doesn't mean they are incapable of being great.
Here are my top 5 for each state (off the top of my head):
Illinois:
Pipeworks
Revolution
One Trick Pony
Half Acre
Two Brothers
Indiana:
3 Floyd's
18th St. Brewery
Burn Em'
Four Fathers
Sun King
.
The two IL breweries that I’d strongly suggest you try if/when you can see Noon Whistle and Brickstone. They’ve become two of my favorites. To be fair, I’m yet to try Mikerphone also, which I’ve heard is outstanding. FYI - I also exclude Lagunitas and Goose for the same reasons. Not a huge fan.
I would also note that my rankings are based purely on the IPA's. I don't drink porters or sours and rarely a stout kn and if I do, it is a bourbon stout). I like the hoppy with 50-100 IBU and the hazy IPA is really taking over for me."A smart monkey doesn't monkey around with another monkey's monkey" - Darwin's Theory0 -
^ Im exactly the same. Usually all IPA and APA and the haze craze has taken me over too.
Im in Oswego. About 40 miles west of the city. West of Naperville if you’re familiar.0 -
OH yeah! Brought my son to his first game! @HesCalledDyer I tried a local beer at the game yesterday: cheseapeake common. Have you had it? I thought it was very good. It is breweries in Dundalk, MD.bbiggs said:
Awesome! Great summer beer. Are you a Yanks fan?mcgruff10 said:
Cheers from Camden yards! Had this last week in Chicago and loved it. I'll ride the wave where it takes me......0 -
Key Brewing. I don’t think I’ve had it but I’ve had their On Point Ale and didn’t care for it much. Usually I like ambers but it just wasn’t good.mcgruff10 said:
OH yeah! Brought my son to his first game! @HesCalledDyer I tried a local beer at the game yesterday: cheseapeake common. Have you had it? I thought it was very good. It is breweries in Dundalk, MD.bbiggs said:
Awesome! Great summer beer. Are you a Yanks fan?mcgruff10 said:
Cheers from Camden yards! Had this last week in Chicago and loved it.
Have you been to Camden Yards before? I love it there, my favorite park (maybe I’m biased being a Marylander). I always go for a Duckpin from Union Brewing at the park.Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24 / Raleigh I 25 / Raleigh II 25 / Pittsburgh I 250 -
Very cool! I took my daughter to her first game at age 5, and my son is now 5 so I’ll be taking him to a Cubs game by the end of the season.mcgruff10 said:
OH yeah! Brought my son to his first game! @HesCalledDyer I tried a local beer at the game yesterday: cheseapeake common. Have you had it? I thought it was very good. It is breweries in Dundalk, MD.bbiggs said:
Awesome! Great summer beer. Are you a Yanks fan?mcgruff10 said:
Cheers from Camden yards! Had this last week in Chicago and loved it. 0 -
Yeah bud I have been to Camden Yards many times before. Out of the 15 or so ball parks I have visited I still think Camden Yards is my favorite. Ticket prices are insanely cheap compared to yankee stadium. I haven't seen a ball game at wrigley before so I definitely have to head back and check out a game there.HesCalledDyer said:
Key Brewing. I don’t think I’ve had it but I’ve had their On Point Ale and didn’t care for it much. Usually I like ambers but it just wasn’t good.mcgruff10 said:
OH yeah! Brought my son to his first game! @HesCalledDyer I tried a local beer at the game yesterday: cheseapeake common. Have you had it? I thought it was very good. It is breweries in Dundalk, MD.bbiggs said:
Awesome! Great summer beer. Are you a Yanks fan?mcgruff10 said:
Cheers from Camden yards! Had this last week in Chicago and loved it.
Have you been to Camden Yards before? I love it there, my favorite park (maybe I’m biased being a Marylander). I always go for a Duckpin from Union Brewing at the park.I'll ride the wave where it takes me......0 -
Yeah, I'm vaguely familiar that far west. No wonder you don't make it over this way for breweries. I'm about 50 miles southeast of downtown and maybe 15 south of Michigan.bbiggs said:^ Im exactly the same. Usually all IPA and APA and the haze craze has taken me over too.
Im in Oswego. About 40 miles west of the city. West of Naperville if you’re familiar.
Maybe we ought to meet up at a brewery in between (or downtown) sometime. Share a brew and exchange a 12 pack/case from some of the places we each mentioned above."A smart monkey doesn't monkey around with another monkey's monkey" - Darwin's Theory0 -
Awesome! Yeah Wrigley is an experience. I always tell folks who’ve never been there to catch 2 games - one in the stands and one in the bleachers. Don’t expect the nicest park in the world (far from it) but what it lacks in amenities it makes up for in atmosphere. The Ricketts have done a lot to improve the stadium so at least they’re trying. And may as well catch a game at Comiskey/US Cellular/Guaranteed Rate/etc if you have the time. It’s a nice park, just facing the wrong directionmcgruff10 said:
Yeah bud I have been to Camden Yards many times before. Out of the 15 or so ball parks I have visited I still think Camden Yards is my favorite. Ticket prices are insanely cheap compared to yankee stadium. I haven't seen a ball game at wrigley before so I definitely have to head back and check out a game there.HesCalledDyer said:
Key Brewing. I don’t think I’ve had it but I’ve had their On Point Ale and didn’t care for it much. Usually I like ambers but it just wasn’t good.mcgruff10 said:
OH yeah! Brought my son to his first game! @HesCalledDyer I tried a local beer at the game yesterday: cheseapeake common. Have you had it? I thought it was very good. It is breweries in Dundalk, MD.bbiggs said:
Awesome! Great summer beer. Are you a Yanks fan?mcgruff10 said:
Cheers from Camden yards! Had this last week in Chicago and loved it.
Have you been to Camden Yards before? I love it there, my favorite park (maybe I’m biased being a Marylander). I always go for a Duckpin from Union Brewing at the park.
Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24 / Raleigh I 25 / Raleigh II 25 / Pittsburgh I 250 -
I’m definitely up for that! Brickstone is in Bourbonnais, but not sure where that is from you. It’s a cruise for me. Or hell, even three floyds. Still haven’t been to the brewery. PM me or shoot me a text sometime and we’ll coordinate it.darwinstheory said:
Yeah, I'm vaguely familiar that far west. No wonder you don't make it over this way for breweries. I'm about 50 miles southeast of downtown and maybe 15 south of Michigan.bbiggs said:^ Im exactly the same. Usually all IPA and APA and the haze craze has taken me over too.
Im in Oswego. About 40 miles west of the city. West of Naperville if you’re familiar.
Maybe we ought to meet up at a brewery in between (or downtown) sometime. Share a brew and exchange a 12 pack/case from some of the places we each mentioned above.0 -
^Awesome, that definitely sounds like a plan.
Looks like the Jersey Boys plan to divide has backfired!"A smart monkey doesn't monkey around with another monkey's monkey" - Darwin's Theory0 -
mcgruff10 said:
Cheers from Camden yards! Had this last week in Chicago and loved it.
summer shandy gets old, after a couple.If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14Philly I & II, 16Denver 22
Missoula 240 -
Especially if they're pounders.
Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24 / Raleigh I 25 / Raleigh II 25 / Pittsburgh I 250 -
A very nice ipa on this hot hot hot Tuesday night.
I'll ride the wave where it takes me......0 -
First sams octoberfest of the year!!

I'll ride the wave where it takes me......0 -

Athens 2006. Dusseldorf 2007. Berlin 2009. Venice 2010. Amsterdam 1 2012. Amsterdam 1+2 2014. Buenos Aires 2015.
Prague Krakow Berlin 2018. Berlin 2022
EV, Taormina 1+2 2017.
I wish i was the souvenir you kept your house key on..0 -
^ Damn...wish I was in Greece!0
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I’m pumped to expand my horizons with some new east coast brews this weekend.0
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